New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-05-22
SOCIETY AT THE CAPITAL.
WASHINGTON AS A MATRIMONIAL EA'
CHANGE.
AN AFTERMATH TO THE PAPER HuNT-THh eio"
OF AN ENGAGEMENT-NoTEs.

WASHINGTON, May 21.-No one seems disposed 10
come forward with the real bed rock" expisnau'n
of Washington's phenomenal growth as iasnionaoie
capital All sorts OF gwen for the wonoer
full increase of wealth. luxury and display, and Tor the
ever growing tendency of rich and idle people "
cluster about Lafayette Square Dupont Circle ana
to erect for themselves gorgeous domicesj out none
of these has ever gUne near u truth. iou
will hear discoursing impressiyey OF climatic
advantages, and 1t is almost hourly experience 70
be told that OF course the seat Of the government
must naturally become tho centre of society Inc fac
is, however that Washington has no better climate
than Baltimore, and one not az good as hichmonu
or Norfolk while for tho social attractions OF tho
seat OF Government, who knows Washington is
bound tell himself that the Governments contriou-
tons to really fashionable society be counted on
the fingers; they are two OF three Cabinet members
a dozen of higher officials, Senators, etc, and
few assorted diplomats Most OF the people brought to
Washington by reason of its being the National
Capitathe Congressman, the clerks OF the classified
lists OF the Civil Service the chiefs of bureaus
auIear and seldom heard of 10 the cir5es which
set the pace transact the gaystes and furnish the
material for the writers OF society slush."
Too many of the people who building the prince
ly mansions here, who keep the stylish equipages
who give the sumptuous entertainments and VINO
make up the pageant of Washington society are
'nouveaux riches" from other cities. Having ac
cumuaed great wealth at home, but being restricted
in their operations there, they seek the fresh fields
and pastures new of Washington, whe re they may
enjoy their novel possessions without restraint and
where by the exercise of little push and enterprise
that would lie dnavailing at home, they may create
place for their offspring at the top of the gttering
ladder Here their wealth reaps its fullest harvest
here their daughters find possibilities OF distinguished
alliances here their may figure at paper chases,
receptions, court chrlstenings, etc. Here they are
allowed to forget the slaughterpens, barrooms, loan
Offices and the honest counter where they laid the
fnu1 al of THAR Hero. at last they
truly happy.
Speaking of disting uished alliances. of en-
pOy the qualifying adjective relatively. great
many solid patres famas in New-York, Philadelphia
and other OF the older communities would ta to take
auy large amount of joy and pride In giving their
pretty daughters and sundry hundreds of thousands
Of dollars to an army or navy subaltern OF meagre
means and shadOwy antecedents; but why should
retired barkeeper be proud quondam pork butcher
from Chicago imagine a vain thing To such "a these
son.in-law who holds military commission, who
belongs 70 the Metropolitan Club and who has the
eutree to State receptions at the White House, repre-
sens o tremendous rise in society Matches OF this
sort may be IA gall and wormw0od to the hnckert
locker of Manhattan or the Puritan OF Boston, bu~
they are revelations of woLder and delight to the rum
seller OF the Far West Matches Of ths.sor await the
daughters ct these people and others like them who
come to Washington with bursting wallets Hence
The influx
Afer al there is something to be said for the
raneemont. Why should not Washington become
matrimonial exchanged Why Shout 1t not be made
sort er pOrium where match making parents display
their wares and where needy fortunehunters may con
gate tor purposes Of Inspection Every fashionable
capital of Europe il used In this way-whY not Wash
ington In Paris, Vienna, London, Berlin, st.
Peersburg there are certain subordinate side issues
OF politics aud art but society, marriage display,
luxury-these make the real business Of mankind. at
Washington, the capital of great and growing
country without ruins, without past and without
traditions thpre need be side issues Why should
there be
For this season society may be said to have folded
it's tent. With the exception OF o few third-rate
dudes who sport flannel shirts and canvas shoes and
soft hats to cover still sotter heads and sho look
nwfully tough and brawny at tennis the child OF
luxury /. practically invisible. Threatened with
Civil Service examination, tho department dandy
elngs 10 his three legged stool and scarcely ventures
out Tor his ham sandwich erstwhile procured au bon
marche" at tho dairy. There ras paper hunt out
burst at Georgetown the other day, sort OF alter
math OF the great and gaudy thing heretofore
described In these columns but II was only feeble
decocton Of the genuine article. There drags,
no glittering array of vehicles and livery. The
hares actually lett the asphalt and compelled the
hounds to take to rough country, aud altogether
it was an affair in which set-respectng dude could
take part.
Mony officials owning their houses remain in Wash
ington well no June, holding on to the comforts that
are to be found in home. Diplomatic families for the
most part 20 abroad. summer in Europe is less ex-
pensye than cottage hotel lite at the fashionable
resorts on this side. The Mexican Minister and his
wifi, 20 abroad next month and while there will make
purchases tor the new Legation on LIST. which Is
to be ready for occupancy In the autumn The house
ia tall double red brick, with brown, rough stone
admins the homo of Chief Justice Waite
on the one side and tho other that of exSinister
John w. Foster. The lot is deep one running back
to include stables that extensive and attached to
the house. ] believe Madame Romero has entertained
but seldom Tor tho that the present Legation
on K-st Is q furnished house aud shabby" In its
appointments. The new building having given
promise Of more desirable quarters, she made a be-
ginning last with several afternoon receptions
and was, everybody declared, charming hostess.
Tho Mexican Legation residence Is next TO the British
tho largest foreign building owned here Great
Britain, Germany, Japan and Mexico now own Lega-
ton houses in Washington. Tho British Legation was
built in Sir Edward Thorntons time as Minister. 1t
is not so long ago, dc zen years perhaps but the
house seemed in the country then and quite out OF the
city. Its nearest neghbor Stewart Castle" d
little further out and hopelessy surrounded by
" astes OF marsh land from which rose the constant
croalking OF frogs and the never failing vapors Of
malaria. 1t is not exaggeration to say that tbs
city's growth in that direction has been something
The British Minister goes to England next month
and will there join his daughters, who lett here three
weeks ago. The Misses West will spend the greater
part of the In France, and are not to be in
London for much of the Jubilee celebration, which
going over this year would not miss for
anything" The family return to this country III Sep
tember The visit of Sir Lionel West is his first return
70 England since he came to Washington nearly six
years ago Several vacations have been spent in
Canada, but it may DO said of him that he has not
been out of Amerlcs. 1t is said also that no other
minister in the corps has stuck to bis post many
consecutive years The Dean, Mr. Preston has served
fourteen gears, but in that time has gone homo to
Hayti, and twice to Europe, where his family have
been LIVING for the mast two years. The French.
Italian, German, Swiss, Netherland and Danish
Ministers think nothing of rnnng homo tor the
sumner, you know" Indeed they think less OF 1t
than OF going to Newport, because going is cheaper
Acr hAflar |